Today I.....

[L162LZ]

How is the job going, did all the bolts come apart ok?
There is a thread on here about the swap over to the PQ25 subframe, off an A1 etc. it linked to the German A2 website, makes good reading.
You beat me on the subframe price, my A1 frame cost about £45, but apart from a bit of rust at the welds is in almost new condition. I don't think it spent long on the road.

I'm up to the stage where I've cracked all the bolts holding the subframe, and the ones holding the steering rack onto the subframe, removed the rollbar brackets and removed the wishbones (these were only replaced for last year MOT and will be re-used. But as I'm also replacing the inner (and outer) tie rods (play in the inner joints) im now waiting for the tie rod removal tool (coming tomorow) so I can torque the new inner tie rods into the steering rack before I seperate it from the subframe and remove it.
Wishbones are now on the new subframe along with lower engine mount. I've done a quick spraypaint around the front subframe mounting points so I can hopefully get the new one in the same position (at least near enough so its not too bad before it goes in for alignment). When I fit the new one I'll torque the new bolts but not do the extra 90deg turn (so wont stretch them) so they can shuffle it if needed to sort out the final alignment

 

[Oskar]

What brand are the plugs?
Mac.

I'll admit I have not yet had them out, so they could be rubbish as don't know when they were last changed.
I know as soon as I take them out, I will want to replace them, so I was just hoping my strap would fix it.

I would expect them needing to be replaced, and perhaps all the leads, as I think the previous owner may not have had an eye on the detail........

Perhaps tomorrow, now I've started. Need to see what the next cold start brings in the morning.

 

[Pie-eyedpiper]

Sadly I'm doing the same subframe job at the moment on my daughter's Polo 6R (1.6tdi) who's current subframe is quite "sievelike", I'm amazed it hasn't collapsed. The replacement which is in great condition, is from an A1 and was £34 including delivery on eBay!! (was more for the new bolts, links and rollbar bushes lol). Quick wirebrush and respray and it's ready to go. Have to do the track rods at the same time so waiting for removal tool to arrive before I can carry on. If I'd read your comment on being able to use these subframes on the A2 I might have kept this one for myself

Gotta admit I'm nervous about loosening the subframe bolts, just don't want to shear any. Plenty of penetrating fluid beforehand and some heat on the day I think. Did you get the alignment pins for the subframe?
Are you doing it up on a hoist?

 

[L162LZ]

Gotta admit I'm nervous about loosening the subframe bolts, just don't want to shear any. Plenty of penetrating fluid beforehand and some heat on the day I think. Did you get the alignment pins for the subframe?
Are you doing it up on a hoist?

I did get a set of alignment pins but they don't seem brilliant, so aim is to mark around the old one as best I can. Not on a hoist just on axle stands as high as I could get it!

 

[Pie-eyedpiper]

I did get a set of alignment pins but they don't seem brilliant, so aim is to mark around the old one as best I can. Not on a hoist just on axle stands as high as I could get it!

I'll be on axle stands too, not the best but needs must. I had planned to do it in Summer on my drive, but it'll be a case of clearing my carport out so I have some weather protection.
I'll be doing shocks, springs, drop links, ARB bushes and track rod ends at the same time too.

 

[JTG510]

Today I finally got to take my TDI 90 out for a spin on roads that aren't flooded. I got it back from some time spent with the wizards at WOM last week - and what a difference!

It's had a new oil pump chain and tensioner, water pump and timing belt as preventative maintenance, and then Rob and Marcus set about giving it a new lease of life with Bilstein B6 dampers, all new mounts and bump stops, some new springs, cast wishbones, a new clutch and DMF, and a 6-speed box with associated gubbins. It now drives like a new car, if not better. Handling is fantastic for my local country roads, and when I'm finished having fun running through the lower gears I can motorway cruise in 6th.

Customer service from Rob and Marcus was fantastic throughout. At one point it looked like they might have to cut a wheel off due to a previous garage severely over-torquing a wheel bolt, but they managed to save the wheel. Rob gave great communication on the work that needed doing and associated costs before I committed. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Thank you @chumsofmanutd for doing such a good job.

 

[simon martyn]

On the subject of plugs, Battersea tells me that he prefers Denso. Not cheap but seem to be very effective.

 

[dj_efk]

Today I finally got to take my TDI 90 out for a spin on roads that aren't flooded. I got it back from some time spent with the wizards at WOM last week - and what a difference!

It's had a new oil pump chain and tensioner, water pump and timing belt as preventative maintenance, and then Rob and Marcus set about giving it a new lease of life with Bilstein B6 dampers, all new mounts and bump stops, some new springs, cast wishbones, a new clutch and DMF, and a 6-speed box with associated gubbins. It now drives like a new car, if not better. Handling is fantastic for my local country roads, and when I'm finished having fun running through the lower gears I can motorway cruise in 6th.

Customer service from Rob and Marcus was fantastic throughout. At one point it looked like they might have to cut a wheel off due to a previous garage severely over-torquing a wheel bolt, but they managed to save the wheel. Rob gave great communication on the work that needed doing and associated costs before I committed. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Thank you @chumsofmanutd for doing such a good job.

Nice! Sounds exactly like the transformation mine received when I first got it - Combined with Bluetooth, colour DIS and an armrest, you have a car that is now interchangeable with a modern car as an everyday driver in terms of reliability - but one that is far more characterful and cheap to run!

 

[L162LZ]

Gotta admit I'm nervous about loosening the subframe bolts, just don't want to shear any. Plenty of penetrating fluid beforehand and some heat on the day I think. Did you get the alignment pins for the subframe?
Are you doing it up on a hoist?

Stupidly I tried to remove this subframe rear mounting bracket on my daughters Polo (image not her car) and both bolts heads (M8 x 20) sheared off. Spend 2hrs this morning drilling them out and retapping as best I could. Not sure if the A2 has the same bracket @Pie-eyedpiper but if it does I'd suggest leave it alone and just nemove the main bolt holding the subframe. The subframe should just slide forward from these brackets. I'm not really sure of their purpose unless its just to help mount the subframe??

 

[Pie-eyedpiper]

Stupidly I tried to remove this subframe rear mounting bracket on my daughters Polo (image not her car) and both bolts heads (M8 x 20) sheared off. Spend 2hrs this morning drilling them out and retapping as best I could. Not sure if the A2 has the same bracket @Pie-eyedpiper but if it does I'd suggest leave it alone and just nemove the main bolt holding the subframe. The subframe should just slide forward from these brackets. I'm not really sure of their purpose unless its just to help mount the subframe??
View attachment 116319

I'm not sure about those brackets. I thought it was just 4 x M12 bolts that holds the subframe on. Did they come out ok on yours?
I definitely won't be touching those, if it can be avoided .

 

[L162LZ]

I'm not sure about those brackets. I thought it was just 4 x M12 bolts that holds the subframe on. Did they come out ok on yours?
I definitely won't be touching those, if it can be avoided .

As I say not sure the A2 has these, this was on the Polo 6r. The main subframe bolts (once they'd been "cracked") came lose pretty easily

 

[Pie-eyedpiper]

Today I....painted my new (to me) PQ25 subframe welds.
It really is in pretty good nick.

 

[Timmy2000]

Today I had a bit of a surprise when the clutch pedal in my car decided it wanted to stay down as I tried to pull away at a junction No clutch, no gears, but thankfully a wife who could steer the car while I pushed it out of the way. After 5 minutes the pedal suddenly came back without me doing anything and it's been fine since.

I've checked the engine bay and can't see any signs of any leaks, brake fluid level is perfect so I'm thinking clutch master cylinder is on its way out. I already have new slave cylinder I could put on too, just to be sure.

On the plus side I am going to be swapping out the front calipers so I can do a proper bleed on the car once the cylinder is in. I also need to swap the top mounts over Christmas cos the Sussex roads have killed the Febi items I put in after just 20k miles.

 

[George Hogg]

Today I had a bit of a surprise when the clutch pedal in my car decided it wanted to stay down as I tried to pull away at a junction No clutch, no gears, but thankfully a wife who could steer the car while I pushed it out of the way. After 5 minutes the pedal suddenly came back without me doing anything and it's been fine since.

I've checked the engine bay and can't see any signs of any leaks, brake fluid level is perfect so I'm thinking clutch master cylinder is on its way out. I already have new slave cylinder I could put on too, just to be sure.

On the plus side I am going to be swapping out the front calipers so I can do a proper bleed on the car once the cylinder is in. I also need to swap the top mounts over Christmas cos the Sussex roads have killed the Febi items I put in after just 20k miles.

I had something very similar on PJ, 56k, five weeks ago the pedal stopped halfway up. I lubed the pivot and gave it a sideways tap and it’s been fine so far.

 

[Timmy2000]

I had something very similar on PJ, 56k, five weeks ago the pedal stopped halfway up. I lubed the pivot and gave it a sideways tap and it’s been fine so far.

Unfortunately I don't think it's going to be so simple for me. Car was fine all morning, but when I finished the first job of the day I thought "I can smell oil". I was supposed to drive across county this morning but feeling something wasn't right, got back home and found this

I like Space X's language on these sort of things, so "it seems to have experienced a rapid, unscheduled discharge of transmission oil". Or a bit more bluntly, it looks like something in the gearbox is borked.

I hit a couple of massive potholes in the dark/terrible weather yesterday but don't think it's related I have to work from home this morning, if I get time later I'll get the car jacked up and take the tray off to see if it's anything obvious...

Update: no obvious damage anywhere but the oil is all over the underside of the gearbox, front and back. Suspect the input shaft seal has gone so will remove the gearbox and check over the weekend. I have an MZN box waiting to go into the wife's car so may end up putting that in to get the car going again whilst I figure out what's happened with this box.

 

[dj_efk]

Yesterday I filled up and Audrey’s lifetime MPG average ticked past 60mpg - a reinforcement of the steadily improving consumption since I took over as custodian.

 

[jagrs]

MOT passed again - advisory on sleeve that connects back box and middle box is corroded

 

[L162LZ]

Today I....painted my new (to me) PQ25 subframe welds.
It really is in pretty good nick.

View attachment 116331

Certainly better than the one I replaced on my daughters 2010 Polo this morning !!

 

[the_luton_man]

Today I replaced the coil 032905106B on my 1.4 Petrol 2002 AUA. The Emission Management Light was solid amber on Tuesday so possibly the damp and miserable winter had resulted in sluggish acceleration. A scan showed numerous misfires, probably over the days and times I had driven the car. Euro Car Parts have 20% off all Bosch parts until Monday 18th December so my A2 got an early Christmas present of a brand new Bosch 0221603010 rather than a secret Santa special! Engine hoovered out of the autumn leaf fall whilst I had the cover off too. Seems to be running fine, no EMS light on. Cleaned and inspected the Temic part and there were hairline cracks on two sides and underneath as per the phoyographs. Can't be sure if they caused the problem, but still if the age is right on the Temic as manufactured in early 2002, I am sure the new Bosch coil's time had arrived.

 

[L162LZ]

Finally took possession of "Penny" from her previous owner and brought her back to Liverpool to her new home